Reversible plug for condenser tubes and the like



April 15 1924. 1,490,869

- W. E. VOLZ REVERSIBLE PLUG FOR CONDENSER TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26. 1922 WITNESSES 701? Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES waste WILLIAM E. VOLZ, 0F AMITYVILLE, NEW YORK.

REVERSIBLE PLUG FOR CONDENSER TUBES AND' THE LIKE.

Application filed August 26, 1922. Serial No. 584,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. VoLz, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Amityville, in the county of Sufiolk and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Reversible Plug for Condenser Tubes and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device for closing the ends of tubes of surface condensers and the like, and has particular reference to a reversible plug which may be employed to fit different sized tubes.

An object of the invention is to provide a plug of simple construction which will effectively close tubes or apertures in tube sheets pending repairs to the tubes or replacement of defective tubes.

Another object is to provide a plug which may be employed to decrease the capacity of condensing surfaces in case of excess or very low temperature of circulating water.

Still another object is to provide a rapid means for stopping leaks as against the usual practice of cutting down a piece of wood or other available material to fill the inside of the tube to prevent the circulating water entering the boiler thus entailing a loss of time, particularly in seagoing vessels where it is essential to keep boilers free from salt water.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detail description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and shown in section illustrating the application of the device to a tube and plate; 1

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the use of the plug when the tube has been entirely removed from its plate;

Figure 3 is an end view of the plug: and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a diiferent form of the plug.

The invention ingeneral consists of a plug made of light material, preferably bass wood and is provided at one end with a body portion 1 having the proper dimensions to fit snugly within a tube 2 so as to effectually close the end thereof. A flange 3 is formed at the inner end of the body portion 1 and is adapted to fit the threaded aperture 4 in the tube sheet 5, the nature of the material of which the plug is made enabling the flange 3 to be threaded into said aperture. The usual packing 11 is mounted in the aperture 4 and surrounds the tube 2. As illustrated in Figure 1, where the body portion 1 is used to close the end of the tube 2 the flange 3 is only forced or threaded into the aperture 4 a sufficient distance to maintain the plug in a closing position. However, when it is desired to remove or replace the tube 2, it is preferable that the flange 3 be forced or threaded inwardly so that its entire periphery will be engaged within the aperture 4.

The plug is further provided at the end opposite the body portion 1 with another body portion 6 of a different diameter from that of the portion 1 to provide a reversible plug for fitting different sized tubes. A flange 7 of a diameter different from that of the flange 3 and serving the same purpose as the latter flange is provided at the inner end of the body portion 6. The flanges 3 and 7 are separated to provide a space 8 therebetween so that either of the flanges, depending upon which end is used to fit a tube, may be engaged by asuitable tool in order to remove the plug from the tube and tube plate.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the body portions 1 and 6 are similar in all respects, but the flanges 3 and 7 instead of being spaced as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are contiguous to each other and are thus spaced from the adjacent body portions 1 and 6 by the portions 9 and 10 which are slightly less in diameter than the adjacent body portions. This construction permits of either body portion being engaged by a tool when the other body portion is employed to fit in a tube plate whereby the plug may be readily withdrawn from said plate.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the invention provides a reversible plug of simple and inexpensive construction, which will be effective in carrying out the purpose for which it is designed, and which, owing to the nature of the material of which it is preferably made, will insure a tight joint and at the same time permit of easy removal of the plug by reason of the arrangement of the flanges and body porti'ons.

' the plug and engageable with said tubes and the Walls of the apertures in said tube plates,

3. A plug for tubes including a body portion adapted to fit snugly Within the tube, and a flange on the end of the body portion adapted to bear against the end of t 1e tube and form a tight joint With an aperture in a sheet-in which the tube in mounted.

4. A plug for tubes mounted in apertured tube sheets, which includes body portions at each end adapted to fit into difierent but standard sized tubes, and flanges adjacent the body portions adapted to fit the tube sheet apertures.

5. A plug for tubes mounted in tube sheets or supports, including end portions adapted to fit into the tubes, adjacent flange portions adapted to fit into the tube sheets, and intermediate portions of reduced diam eter to receive a gripping tool for the ready removal of the plug.

WILLIAM E. vonzfi 

